The Oconto Falls School District was accused in a federal lawsuit of “fostering and condoning sexual abuse and grooming by discovering that at least nine different teachers…had engaged in grooming and/or sexual abuse” against at least 14 victims over a period of at least 20 years.
“The Board had consistently failed to investigate, discipline, or otherwise act on reports of abuse,” alleges the explosive complaint, which names three teachers (two of whom were criminally charged) and identifies the others by letters.
The case was filed by Amanda Watzka, Brooke La Count, and Grace Williams against the Oconto Falls Public School District. The lawsuit includes a chart of alleged incidents, some involving other students and teachers:
“This is a civil rights arising from the sexual grooming and abuse of three students at Oconto Falls High School by teachers and coaches employed by the Board,” the complaint says.
The action comes after Republicans in the Legislature succeeded in getting Gov. Tony Evers to sign bills they passed criminalizing grooming and requiring school districts to establish clear policies.
“The heartbreaking allegations in this lawsuit underscore exactly why Wisconsin Act 88, and the other grooming-related bills passed by the legislature this session, are so critical to protecting students and deterring abuse,” state Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie) said. “If the allegations in the complaint are accurate, it would represent a profound failure by adults entrusted with protecting these students. I am incredibly proud of the courage shown by those who have come forward, and I hope they are able to receive the justice and support they deserve.”
However, in a statement to WPR, Oconto Falls Superintendent Stuart Russ “said plaintiffs threatened to sue the district and made substantial monetary demands in August 2025.” He said other accusations were investigated.
“Since August, the district has responded to plaintiffs and their attorney to recognize the wrongs by these two former employees, but also to help them understand that the district took prompt action when it was made aware of the misconduct,” Russ wrote, referring to the two accused people who were charged. He added, “The District is not able to comment further on the details of this lawsuit as it is an ongoing matter. The District remains confident, however, that it will continue to act promptly to any allegations of misconduct.”
Amanda’s Story
The complaint alleges that Amanda was “groomed and sexually abused by her Tech Education Teacher” while she was a student at Oconto Falls High School from about 2010 to 2013, when she was between the ages of 16 and 18. The teacher is still listed on the school’s website.
He allegedly began talking to her about her personal life and then taking her on drives to “talk for hours.” He allegedly discussed his marriage and his sex life. She was 16. He is accused of telling her “he could take good care of her as a Christian family man.” She alleged he sexually assaulted her at a Wisconsin Dells resort. These are accusations described in the complaint; this teacher has not been charged, so his name is being withheld.
Plaintiff Brooke was “groomed and sexually abused” by assistant volleyball coach Brynn Marie Larsen “while Brooke was a 15-year-old sophomore at Oconto Falls High School during the 2013-2014 school year,” the lawsuit alleges.
In 2021, Larsen was sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting a student. She was a “former Oconto Falls substitute teacher and volleyball coach.”
Plaintiff Grace was “groomed and sexually abused by substitute teacher Brynn Marie Larsen while Grace was a 17-year-old junior at Oconto Falls High School,” alleges the complaint.
“The theory of Plaintiffs’ case against the Board is not simply that they were sexually abused, but that they were abused by teachers and coaches under circumstances created by the Board through its pervasive custom and policy of knowing about teacher-student sexual abuse and failing to act,” the suit alleges.
“While Plaintiffs were aware of their abuse, they had no knowledge, and no reason to know, of the Board’s unwritten policies, customs, and practices tolerating sexual abuse and grooming across many teachers and students, and the Board’s deliberate indifference to such conduct until Fall 2025, when they learned of the full scope of teacher-student sexual abuse at Oconto Falls High School and the Board’s decades-long pattern of ignoring it.”
Three of the cases allegedly involved Gayle Gander. The former Oconto Falls High School staff member was criminally charged with accusations that he had inappropriate sexual conduct with seven students. He faces 11 charges and has an upcoming arraignment in court. Gander, who was fired, was an English teacher and director of the performing arts center.
As Amanda began to investigate and discuss her experiences with others, “she learned for the first time that numerous other students had experienced teacher-on-student sexual abuse at Oconto Falls High School, and that the Board had created an environment in which such abuse was enabled and empowered to occur,” the complaint says.
The lawsuit alleged that multiple teachers and administrators observed Amanda and the teacher together in off-hours in his office and classroom, and Amanda confided in a teacher about “aspects of her relationship” with him.
She submitted a “disturbing paper” in her senior year about how broken she was.
The complaint alleges that a school official had knowledge of Larsen’s alleged abuse of Brooke because people complained to him about seeing them together, but the officials merely had a “discussion with Brynn about boundaries” and let her continue as assistant coach.
Even though there was a police investigation in 2014, the board “failed to properly report, flag or discipline Larsen, allowing her to be hired at another school district and later return to Oconto Falls, where she abused Grace Williams in 2018,” alleges the complaint.
Amanda “learned in 2025 that the Board’s pattern of knowledge of teacher-student abuse and failing to act spanned at least twenty years (2005-2025), involved at least nine different teachers, and affected at least fourteen identified victims,” the complaint says.
Larsen allegedly sent Snapchat messages to Brooke, often late at night, including images of her naked body. Brooke was 15. She allegedly engaged with Brooke in sexual activity in the back seat of her SUV while Brooke was 15 and a student on Larsen’s volleyball team, the complaint says.
Larsen’s relative, the head coach, was accused of being present in the home when Brooke stayed overnight and observed them snuggling on the couch, the complaint says.
Police intervened in 2014, but an officer “threatened to put Brooke in handcuffs unless she cooperated,” it alleges. She denied that anything was happening because she was “terrified and confused.” Despite the investigation, Brynn continued to engage with Brooke and sent her flowers, the complaint alleges, so Brooke transferred out of Oconto Falls High School, but Larsen was then hired by the School District of Waupaca.
The official allegedly said he wasn’t “really able to substantiate anything.”
Brooke’s guidance counselor allegedly saw them together on numerous occasions outside of school.. In 2018, Larsen is accused of inviting Grace to her house and making out with her. She told a friend who reported it to the school resource officer, but the board conducted no formal investigation, the complaint says.
“No one really cared.”
Grace did not learn until 2025 that the Board had received complaints and reports about Larsen’s alleged abuse of Brooke in 2013-2014 and had allegedly “failed to act in response. The sexual abuse and grooming of Amanda, Brooke, and Grace did not occur in isolation, but rather within a pervasive culture at Oconto Falls School District in which teacher-student sexual abuse, grooming, and misconduct was widespread, known to school officials through reports and/or direct observations, and tolerated without meaningful consequence,” the complaint says.
It describes these cases, among others.
Staff member A
Accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a female student. Allegedly used to get “blow jobs in his ice shack.”
Another student claims he had taken her virginity. He may still be employed as a teacher.
Staff Member B
Would allegedly permit a student to leave class if she flirted with him and allegedly touched her inappropriately.
Staff members A and B were friends and colleagues. They allegedly brought alcohol for students to a graduation party and regularly attended high school parties.
Staff member C, a teacher and coach
A student alleged he touched her inappropriately.
Staff member D
A substitute teacher was allegedly verbally inappropriate and propositioned a student about being his sugar baby after she graduated. He allegedly wrote inappropriate social media communications. He is accused of saying, “I’m pretty important u know.”
State Representative David Steffen (R-Howard) said, “Teachers and school staff have the essential responsibility to protect our students, and I am grateful that the vast majority of staff go above and beyond in carrying out this responsibility. I am deeply disturbed by the allegations within this lawsuit. In any case involving guilt of abuse, predators must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Senator Eric Wimberger (R-Gillett) added, “All sexual abuse allegations deserve serious investigation by our justice system. Students in our community should feel safe when they walk the halls of our schools – and especially safe from predators who disguise themselves as someone their victims know and trust.”
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